View Single Post
Old 05-05-2007, 20:20 PM   #11 (permalink)
JAD_333
Defense Professional
 
JAD_333's Avatar
 
Join Date: 04-15-07
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,692
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by xerxes View Post
Constantine never split the empire in two. The first to do that was Dicoltian and that was for the duel administrative purposes of Caesar-August ruling each half. After Constantin's death, the republic split into three parts, and not two. Contantine had nothing to do with that, he merely transfered the capital from Eternal Rome to Byzantuim, where he could have a closer view of Rome's richest provinces.
Correct. The empire was already divided into western and eastern parts.

But isn't it fair to say that administrative and security breakdowns in the western half, his moving the capital to the eastern half, and his renaming Byzantium, New Rome, created a psychological split that hastened the decline of the empire.

He made matters worse by allowing 3 of his sons to become emperors after his death. Is that the 3-way split you mentioned?
JAD_333 is online now   Reply With Quote